UN "Received Reports of Taliban's Summary Executions of Civilians... Need to Establish Monitoring Body"

Call for Establishment of Dedicated Body to Monitor Human Rights Situation in Afghanistan

Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Photo by AP, Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has reported receiving information about human rights abuses, including summary executions of civilians, in Afghanistan under the control of the Islamic militant group Taliban.

On the 24th (local time), during a special session of the UN Human Rights Council held in Geneva, Switzerland, Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, made these remarks while discussing the human rights situation in Afghanistan.

The meeting was convened at the official request of Afghanistan, in coordination with Pakistan, which acts as a coordinator for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Commissioner Bachelet stated that she had received reports of "summary executions of civilians and Afghan government forces who have lost combat capability, restrictions on women's free movement and access to school education, recruitment of child soldiers, and suppression of peaceful protests and dissenting opinions."

She added, "The Human Rights Council must take bold and strong measures commensurate with the severity of this crisis," and urged "the establishment of a dedicated body to closely monitor the human rights situation in Afghanistan."

She also referred to the Taliban's earlier statements that they would respect women's rights within Sharia law (Islamic law) and would not seek revenge against those who worked in the previous government, emphasizing that "the responsibility to fulfill these promises now lies entirely with the Taliban."

In particular, she stressed, "How the Taliban treat women and girls will be a fundamental red line," and urged that "(the Taliban) must adopt human rights norms while working to reintegrate society and achieve reconciliation."